A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night has claimed the lives of at least 18 people, leaving 10 others injured. The incident occurred as thousands of passengers crammed into the station, struggling to board delayed trains.
Authorities confirmed that among the victims were four children and 10 women, according to an official list released on Sunday morning. The massive rush was reportedly linked to the ongoing Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, which has attracted tens of millions of Hindu pilgrims.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as passengers, many of whom were returning from or heading to Prayagraj for the religious festival, found themselves trapped in an uncontrollable surge of people.
Ruby Devi, a traveler at the station, said the crowd was so overwhelming that she was unable to enter the station building. Umesh Giri, who lost his wife, Shilam Devi, in the crush, described the scene as “unbearable,” adding that the sheer number of people made it impossible to move safely. Another witness, Dharmendra Singh, recounted seeing several women being carried away on stretchers.
According to officials, the deadly crush was triggered by significant train delays. Two trains were delayed, while a third, the Prayagraj Express, was stationed at the platform, leading to a bottleneck of anxious passengers.
KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), stated that authorities are currently investigating the cause of the overcrowding and whether there were lapses in crowd control measures. “This happened due to a delay in two trains arriving and more people gathering at the station,” Malhotra explained.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, stating, “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones,” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). However, the government has faced mounting criticism for its handling of the situation.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the administration of failing to anticipate the surge in travelers. “Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station,” he posted on X.
The incident highlights India’s ongoing struggle with deadly crowd crushes. Just weeks ago, 30 people lost their lives in a similar tragedy at the Kumbh Mela festival. Overcrowding at religious events, public gatherings, and transportation hubs remains a persistent issue, raising urgent concerns about safety protocols.
As investigations continue, questions remain about whether this disaster could have been prevented with better crowd management and infrastructure planning. The victims’ families now seek justice and accountability for yet another preventable tragedy in India’s overcrowded public spaces.
